Out and about in WHV

BANTER RUINE / BANTER SEE

The ruins on the banks of the lake are a reminder of the old Banter Church which was destroyed along with the entire settlement of Bant during the horrendous „Antonius Flood“ in 1511. The church was reconstructed in 1889.

DEICHBRÜCKE

This bridge, crossing a shipping bottleneck which links the Ems-Jade Canal with the Greater Harbour, was built in 1908.

MUSEUM SHIP „KAPITÄN MEYER“ AND LIGHT SHIP „WESER“

The light ship „Weser“, with its bright red colour, is the real eye-catcher in the Greater Harbour. It guided ships through the estuary of the River Weser until 1981. Right beside it is the „Kapitän Meyer“, a vessel which previously laid sea buoys and can now be used by couples to tie the knot in the harbour of marriage.

TRIPS AROUND THE HARBOUR

Boats start from the Helgolandkai (Helgoland Quay) for trips around the harbour, passing the Südstrand, or to the tanker terminal and the JadeWeserPort. You can also enjoy a rustical, humorous trip around the inland port on the harbour launch previously employed in Hamburg harbour. During the summer months, there is also a line to Butjadingen.

NASSAUBRÜCKE

The special feature of the „Nassau“ bridge, built over 90 years ago, is its ability to adapt to the respective water level. It is part of the Nassau harbour, named after the naval ship S.M.S. Nassau whose crew was the irst to use the bridge.

SHOPPING

The Nordsee Passage, located directly adjacent to the railway station, combines shopping and gastronomy under one, high, glass roof. You can ind fashion clothes, shoes, jewellery, gourmet foods, lowers, books and everything you need to enjoy a typical East Frisian tea in an area over 35,000 sq. metres. Behind the shopping centre is Marktstrasse, Wilhelmshaven‘s main shopping mall. Traditional shops and international businesses lie side-by-side.

ROBERT-KOCH-HAUS

Daily, at 8 a.m. 12 noon and 6 p.m., bells chime a folk song from the gable of one of the most beautiful buildings in the town. The house was built in 1906 and has accommodated the public health office since 2000. Therefore, it is named after Robert Koch, a renowned German doctor.

KAISER-WILHELM-MEMORIAL

There is a memorial to Kaiser Wilhelm I, the founder of the town, on Friedrich-Wilhelm-Platz. It is a replica, the original having been melted down during the 2nd World War. About 50 metres away is a tidal clock. You can read when low and high tides will occur.

CHRISTUS- UND GARNISONKIRCHE

One of the things to admire in this church of the cross, built between 1869 and 1872, is the altarpiece from Hugo Schnars-Alquist which depicts a rough sea with cross. Coats of arms from naval ships and plaques from the Kaiser‘s navy convey the last respects to mariners in the last century.

WERFTTOR/ MARINEARSENAL

The main entrance to the Arsenal, built of brick and originally developed in 1876 as the Kaiser‘s docks, has a majestic appearance. You can ind the only Kaiser era letterbox, made of cast iron, remaining in Germany.

PRINZ-ADALBERT-MEMORIAL

Prince Adalbert of Prussia was the irst admiral in the Prussian Navy and initiator for the founding of Wilhelmshaven. The memorial at Adalbertplatz was draughted by the sculpturer Karl Schuler from Berlin and was inanced by donations from naval officers.

KURPARK

The entrance to the park, planned in 1870, leads through the beautiful, brick Hindenburg Gate. The park was given its name in the 1920s when Wilhelmshaven was popular as a spa and resort town. The „music mussel“ opposite the duck pond was build in the 1960s.

RATHAUS

The draught completed by the well-known architect Fritz Höger was actually realised in 1928/29. The townhall tower also serves as a water reservoir.

KOPPERHÖRNER MÜHLE

The mill has not been in use for over 80 years but the windmill, with its 22-metre long sails made in 1839, still functions. It stands under the protection of historic buildings and sites act and is open to visitors on the first Sunday of every month.

HEPPENSER KIRCHE ST. NIKOLAI

This medieval church built in the 15th century stands on a dwelling mound, has survived all loods and is well worth a visit if only for a look at the Münstermann pulpit and Roman baptismal font. The historical church windows have been supplemented by two modern windows created by the Wilhelmshaven artist Hartmut Wiesner.

SIBETSBURG

It is rumoured that Störtebeker once resided here as a guest. Apart from a commemorative stone on a hill and some built-up ground plans however, there is not much to see of the castle owned by his host Chief Edo Wiemken the Elder.

NAUTIMO UND FREIBAD NORD

The „Nautimo“ water park not only provides two tunnel slides and diving boards but also a lazy river, bubbling underwater massage, outdoor pools, paddling pool, a 25-meter pool for competitive swimmers and a large sauna landscape. The open-air pool area is equipped with a 50-metre pool, baby pool, volleyball pitch and lawn for sunbathing to enjoy warm, sunny days.

ROSARIUM, BOTANICAL GARDEN AND STADT- PARK WITH WAR CEMETARY

After taking a walk through the park, it is worth stopping of at the Bootshaus Café with its terrace directly beside the duck pond. Paddle boats and rowing boats are available for hire. The War Cemetery is located at the north border of the park where 3,000 fallen soldiers from the two world wars rest in peace. The Rosarium, the only one of its kind in Northwest Germany offers an unforgettable experience to lower-lovers.

STÖRTEBEKER PARK

Scaled-down forts, rafting trips, a sun dial and a pancake café ensure that children‘s hearts beat even faster. The park is open between April and October from Mondays to Fridays and Sundays. Entrance is free.